Vacuum concentrator and method for vacuum concentration

Abstract

Vacuum concentrator, comprising a vacuum chamber with a closure which may be sealed in an airtight manner, a centrifuge rotor arranged in the vacuum chamber with at least one receiver for at least one vessel for samples to be dried, a drive motor arranged outside the vacuum chamber for driving the centrifuge rotor, a vacuum pump connected to the vacuum chamber, a tempering device associated with the vacuum chamber for tempering the at least one sample in the vacuum chamber, a pressure sensor associated with the vacuum chamber for detecting the pressure inside the vacuum chamber and an electrical control and evaluating device which is connected to the drive motor, the vacuum pump, the tempering device and the pressure sensor, for detecting the end point of the vacuum concentration by means of the pressures detected by the pressure sensor in the vacuum chamber and terminating the vacuum concentration when the end point is determined.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not applicable.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH[0002]Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The invention relates to a vacuum concentrator and to a method for vacuum concentration.[0004]Vacuum concentration is used in the chemical industry and in the laboratory, in particular within the scope of solid-liquid extraction and for drying wet, thermally unstable samples. In this connection, the fact that the boiling point of a liquid is reduced in the vacuum is utilized. As a result, the boiling liquid in the vacuum may escape from a wet sample at relatively low temperatures. To this end, the samples are arranged in a vacuum chamber which is evacuated by means of a vacuum pump. In order to prevent an uncontrolled release of liquid from the samples, said samples are arranged in the vacuum chamber in a centrifuge rotor. The heat for the vaporization is generated by means of electrical or other heating devices. The releas...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a vacuum concentrator for samples that can be dried. It includes a vacuum chamber with a sealed closure, a centrifuge rotor, a vacuum pump, a tempering device, a pressure sensor, and a control and evaluating device. The vacuum pump removes air and other gases from the chamber, while the centrifuge rotor rotates to distribute the samples evenly. The pressure sensor detects the pressure inside the chamber, and the control and evaluating device analyzes the pressure to determine when the concentration is complete and to terminate the vacuum concentration. The invention allows for automatic and efficient vacuum concentration without the need for prior knowledge of the material composition or leakage. It also reduces damage to the samples and shortens the evacuation time."

Problems solved by technology

However, there is the risk that the samples have not been dried for long enough, so that considerable portions of residual liquid remain in the samples.

Subsequent heating of samples which are already completely dried may lead to overheating of the samples.

In this connection, it is disadvantageous that an indication of the liquid and / or the solvent is required and the data have to be present for the relevant solvent.

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